Ridly Greig. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Empty-netter triggers nasty spat between Senators and Leafs

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/10/24

Anytime rivals tangle, shenanigans are bound to happen. Add a tinge of disrespect from the underdog in an upset win, and they're a given.

With 5.1 seconds left in the third period, center Ridly Greig capped off a 5-3 Ottawa Senators win over the Toronto Maple Leafs with an egregious slapshot only feet away from a gaping net.

Unsurprisingly, defenseman Morgan Rielly, the nearest Leaf to the play, met Greig with ill intent, triggering a minor disagreement between the two sides.

Ridly Greig buries the empty-netter with a slapshot and Morgan Rielly takes exception pic.twitter.com/6NISK4AMSt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 11, 2024

While Greig's empty-netter clearly got under the skin of the Leafs, Rielly was the only one penalized, receiving a major and game misconduct after cross-checking the Senators forward in the head.

Rubbing extra salt in the wound, Rielly will undoubtedly have to answer to the league office and is likely facing a fine and suspension.

Even though Rielly's actions were clearly illegal, warranted or not, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe defended his player.

Keefe told reporters after the game that his team has the right to react, adding that Rielly was right to respond the way he did. When asked how he could justify it, Keefe told Claire Hanna of TSN, "It's pretty apparent."

Meanwhile, Senators interim head coach Jacques Martin had a different take, saying no matter how Greig scored the goal, what Rielly did "shouldn't happen."

The victory clinched the first season series win for the Senators over the Leafs since the 2018-19 season. The two teams won't meet again this season, but after Saturday's altercation, it's safe to say the Battle of Ontario is firing back up again.

More must-reads: